Tape actuating device



Sept. 18, 1934. w. J. ZENNER 1,973,839

TAPE AGTUATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1932 INVENTOR WALTER J. ZENNEB BY M ATTORNE Patented Sept. 1 s, 1934 OFFICE TAPE ACTUATING DEVICE Walter J. Zenner, Des' Plaines, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application February 10, 1932, Serial No. 592,606

s 25 Claims. (Cl. 178-42) I This invention pertains to projection systems and .apparatus therefor and more particularly to tape actuating devices of the type employed for imparting continuous movement to the paper strip 5 through telegraph recording devices and-pro jecting machines.

It has been found to be desirable in many brokerage offices to project upon a screen the information received upon a ticker tape, so as to accommodate simultaneously a greater number ofobservers. To accomplish this result a transparent or translucent tape is utilized, and subsequent to printing or recording thereon the tape is caused to pass through a projection machine. 16 It is well known that normally the movement of the tape through the recording device or ticker is controlled by a so-called spacing mechanism integral with the device and that intermittent or step-by-step motion is thereby imparted to the 0 tape. Such irregular movement of the tape pro duces on the screen a running account of the ticker information which proceeds along the screen spasmodically and thus is not conducive to easy reading; in fact, the constant agitative 5 motion of the image on the screen might fatigue the observer. I

The main object of the present invention is to impart to the tape a continuous movement at a speed consistent with the effective operation of the recording device.

To produce the desired result the present invention contemplates the dispensation of the span ing mechanism of the recording device and a tape-actuating device is provided in accordance,

with the present invention whereby the tape is given a continuous motion during the recording operations and is arrested automatically upon the cessation of recording operations for a predetermined period.

In accordance with the present invention the projecting machine is interposed between the recording device and the tape actuating device, such that the tape is drawn through the printing zone of the recording device, thence immediately through the projector to the tape-engaging member of the tape actuator. It is, of course, manifest that the tape actuating device may be incorporated in the printing unit and operated there- I from by the same source of power, in which event the tape would be directed in the same manner as aforesaid except that it would be returned to the printing unit to engage the tape actuator therein.

The foregoing and further objects of the pres- I cut invention will become apparent from the ensuing disclosurewhen considered in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of the present invention to a projec tion system.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention supplemented by a fragmentary view of the selector or main operating shaft in a recorder and the electrical interconnections therefor. i a

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main drive shaft and the mechanism thereon.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the retard-stop device.

In the general arrangement the projecting machine is preferably juxtapositioned to the recording device so as to reduce to an absolute minimum the timetranspiring between the making of the record and the appearance of that record on the screen. The maintenance of a minimum distance between therecording device and the projector is highly desirable so as to preclude the possibility of delaying the presentation of the inuformation upon the screen after the recording operation. If the projector is not so placed there is great likelihood that the information contained on the portion of the tape between the recorder and projector will be suppressed until such a time when further recordations are made which, in the event of an inactive market, might not occur until after a considerable lapse of time.

As exemplified in Fig. 1, the tape supply is derived from a tape spool 11.located either interiorly or exteriorly of a printing unit 12 which may be of a type similar to that disclosed in- Patent No. 1,745,633, issued February 4, 1930 to S. Morton et al. The tape 10 is passed over a platen 13 of the printing unit, thence through an adjacently disposed projector 14, from whence it passes over a tape guide 15, around a guide roller 16, through tape engaging means 17 to a reel 18 of a tape take-up device which is in the present embodiment located on' the tape actuating device.

Directing attention. to Fig. 2, which illustrates the tape actuating device, it is observed that this device comprises a motor 21 which is adapted to impart througha pinion 22 mounted on the armature shaft thereof continuous motion to a shaft and the mechanism carried thereon is shown in Fig. 3. The worm gear 23 is fixed to a flanged collar 27 which in turn is fixedly mounted on the drive shaft 24. Loosely mounted on the main drive shaft 24 is a sleeve member 28 integral with which is a ratchet 29. The end of the sleeve member 28 opposite the ratchet 29 is reduced in diameter to receive a gear 31 which is tightly held on sleeve 28 by means of nut 32 and locknut 33 mounted on the threaded portion of the sleeve. The end of the sleeve 28 adjacent to the nut 33 is (provided with two diametrically disposed notches. into which is received the rib of a disc member 34., Interposed between the disc 34 and a flanged collar 35 pinned to the main drive shaft 24 is a disc of friction material.

A disc 36 is keyed to the shaft 24 adjacent to the ratchet 29 and disposed between disc 36 and ratchet 29 is disc 37 of friction material. A helical compression spring 38 is carried on" the drive shaft 24 between the collar. member 2'7 and the disc member 36'and serves to compress discs 34' 'and 36 and sleeve 28 and the discs of friction material against the collar 35. Thus, it is seen that the sleeve member 28 is frictionally connected to themain drive shaft 24.

The ratchet wheel 29 cooperates with a yielding pawl member 41 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Pawl member 41 is slidably mounted on the-side of an armature 42 associated with an electromagnet 43 which iscarried on a mounting 44 which in turn is supported on a bracket 45. Armature 43 is pivoted at 46 to the mounting 44 and is normally urged in a clockwise direction against the ratchet wheel 29 (as viewed in Fig. 4) by a spring 47, when the magnet 43 is deenergized. As schematically shown in Fig. 2 the electromagnet 43 is electrically connected to a pair of contacts 48 so that it is energized when a circuit is estab- .lished, upon the closing of contacts 48, from positive battery through contacts 48 thence over wire 49 and through the winding of electromagnet 43 to ground. The contacts 48 in the present embodiment are preferably located (though not necessarily) in the printing unit or recorder 14 and are controlled by a contact lever 51 cooperatively related to a cam.52 integral with sleeve 53 carried on the main operating shaft 54 of a printing unit of the type shown in the previously mentioned patent.

The present invention is designed to be employed with a printer or recorder which is selectively operated by means of equal length letter codes or equal length code combinations of signalling conditions or impulses, and in which the elements carried on the main operating shaft are adapted to make one complete revolution each time a character is to be printed. Printers of this type are operated on the start-stop principle, wherein each group of selecting or codeimpulses is preceded by a start impulse and followed by a stop impulse, the function of which primarily is to maintain unison between the transmitting apparatus and the printers. In effect then, a code combination of signalling impulses for all practical purposes may be deemed to comprise a start impulse, five or six code impulses (depending upon whether a five-unit or six-unit code is used) and a stop impulse. However, in normal transmission the code signals follow successively and continuously such that a definite time interval-comprising a stop impulse and a start impulse exists between each letter code; thus the present invention contemplates the utilization of this time interval to effect the continuous movement of the tape.

As is well knowmthe sleeve member 53 makes one complete revolution during the reception of each code combination; that is, the cam member 52 makes one cyclic movement for each character printed. The position of cam 52 as shown in Fig. 2 is that assumed upon the completion of each cycle and in this position the contacts 48 are open and electromagnet 43 is deenergized. During the normal reception of the ticker-information, the code combinations are received in uniform succession and since the printing stroke is'practically instantaneous the recordation may be made upon a continuously moving tape without blurring or smudging. For this reason the spacing mechanism usually employed in printing devices of the type used in printing telegraph systems may be eliminated and a tape actuating device of the-kind herein described, adapted to impart continuous movement to the tape, may be substituted therefor.

As previously described, the main shaft 24 is constantly rotating. However, the sleeve 28 fnctionally carried thereon is held from rotation by the pawl 41- when there is a cessation in the reception of code signals at which time the magnet 43 is deenergized and armature 42 is released. When code signals are again received the cam 52 rotates substantially continuously whereupon the magnet 43 is again energized, but it is momentarily deenergized each time the cam portion passes underneath follower roller 55. Of course, upon this deenergization the armature 42 is released and pawl 41 engages the ratchet 29, but to compensate for this momentary deenergization so as not to affect or impede the continuous rotation of the ratchet 29, and hence the sleeve 28, the slidable connection between pawl 41 and armature 42 becomes efiective. V

The length of the slot 56 is so proportioned as to permit a period of engagement between the yieldable pawl member 41 and ratchet29 which is slightly greater than the time interval between signal code combinations so that the pawl 41 approaches but does not reach a stop pin 5'7 on the I so that, when the pawl 41 is disengaged or withdrawn from the ratchet 29 spring 58 will cause it to be thrust or protruded upwardly until the bottom of the slot 56 engages a guide pin 61 attached to armature 42.

Now, when the time interval between two successive signal codecombinations is unduly prolonged either by a momentary'delay or by a complete cessation of transmission, the period of deenergization of electromagnet 43 and also the period of engagement of pawl 41 with ratchet 29 will be correspondingly prolonged, in which event,

the pawl member 41 will not be withdrawn as heretofore but will continue into engagement until it strikes against the stop pin 5'7, whereupon the rotation of the ratchet 29, and hence sleeve 28, will be arrested until the transmission of code signals shall have again been resumed.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the drive shaft 24 The yieldability of pawl extends to the right (as viewed in Fig. 3) beyond the bracket 25 and carries on its end a g"rooved pulley 65 fixed thereto. A gear66 adapted to secured on the base. to extend beyond the bracket 88 in a direction auxiliary shaft 6'7 journaled in brackets 25 and 68.

Shaft 67 extends beyond the bracket 68 and carries thereon a knurled roller 69 which comprises a part of the tape engaging means 1'7. A tape pressure means 71 which comprises a U-shaped portion 72 carried on a stud shaft 73 mounted in the bracket 68 is disposed above the roller 69.

Loosely mounted onthe stud shaft 74 and disposed between .the arms of the member 72 is a pressure roller 75. The pressure means 71 is adapted to press against the roller 69 by means of a spring 76. A thumb portion 77 is provided should it be desired for some reason to effect manually the release of the pressure exerted by theroller '75 against the tape.

A flanged tape guide roller '78 is carried on the bracket 68 adjacent to the roller 69. The tape is passed underneath the guide roller 78, thence between the rollers 69 and of the tape engaging means, then around the hub '79 of the reel 18 of the tape take-up device. As shown "in Fig. 2, the reel 18 is, in the present embodiment, provided with a removable side 82 carried on a swinging arm 83 pivotally mounted on the base 20. Side 82 isadapted to be spring-held against the hub 79 by means of a spring 84'. The swinging arm 83 is adapted to be swung outwardly until arrested by the abutting of lug 85 thereon with a stop lug 86 integral with the base. The purpose of the removable side 82 isto permit the'ready removal of the used or printed tape from the reel without disturbing the continuous movement of the tape through the projection machine, since in the case of a very busy market the messages are received by the recorders continuously for many hours and hence the accumulation of printed tape may become greater than can be readily taken care of by the limiteddiameter of the take-up reel. i

The tape reel is carried on the extended portion of the shaft 87 which is journaled in a bracket 88 The shaft 87 is also adapted opposite to that portion upon which the reel 18 is supported and has affixed thereto a grooved pulley 89. The pulleys 65 and 89 are operatively connected by a belt 91 in such a manner that when the tape 10 is held taut between the tape engaging means and the reel the belt 91 will slip around the pulley 89, thus precluding the likelihood of severing the tape. For this purpose the belt 91 has been found to give best results when composed of acontinuous helical spring, since its yieldability provides the utmost of protection to the tape against severance and compensates for increasing diameter of the paper wound on the reel 18.

In the employment of the tape actuating device of the present invention in the projection system schematically shown in Fig. 1. the tape actuating device is properly placed in the system so as to maintain the alignment of the tape 10 therethrough. The tape is properly introduced into the tape engaging means as previously described, the end of the tape being inserted into one or the other of the anti-slip grooves 92 in the hub '79. The tension of the spring 76 of the tape pressure means '71 is such as to insure a gripping contact between the pressure roller 75 and the knurled roller 69. The purpose of'the take-up device 18 normally is to take up the slack in the tape existing between the tape engaging means and the'tape reel and normally has no effect on the tape between the tape-engaging means 17 and the tape source 11. While the tape actuat-' ingmechanism itself is still arrested, the take-up device nevertheless is continually operative due to the fact that the pulley 65 is constantly.rotating with the constantly rotating shaft 24 to which it is affixed. Due to the yieldability of belt 91 and its slippage on pulley 89 the danger of imparting undue tension on tape 10 is removed.

When the operation of the recording device or ticker 12 is initiated upon the reception of code signals to effect printing on the tape 10, the movement of the tape 10 for spacing is likewise initiated by the energization of electromagnet 43 which releases the ratchet wheel 29 for rotation. As previously observed, the energization of electromagnet 43 is effected by the closing of contact 48 through the coaction of lever 51 and cam 52. Now, as long as the signals are received in regular succession the continuous rotation of ratchet the auxiliary shaft" 67 through gear 66 to impart through the tape engaging means 17 continuous movement to tape 10. In this manner, upon the regular and continuous reception of signals the tape .10 will 'be drawn smoothly through the recorder 12, at a rate controlled thereby, and projector 14 to produce upon the projection screen an easily readable running account ofythe information recorded on the tape. When the reception of signals ceases for any appreciable length of time, an interval greater than the time interval between code-signals, the movement of the tape will automatically be arrested, since at the completion of thelast cycle of operation of cam 52 the contact 48 will remain open and hence electromagnet 43 will be deenergized long enough for pawl 41 to effect the stoppage of ratchet 29,

which occurs substantially simultaneously with the reception of the last code signal.

Manifestly, a tape actuating device has been in many other forms than thatspecifically dis-' closed without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, or which may come within the range of equivalency.

.What is claimed is: v 1. In a tape-actuator, a retarded-stop device comprising a normally moving element, an extensible member, means for operating said member to eifect the engagement thereof with said establish a limited movement of said element after said engagement.

2. In a tape actuating apparatus, a retardedstop device comprising a normally moving element, a yielding-stop member, means for operating said stop member to efiect the engagement thereof with said element, and means carried by element, and means carriedby said member to said element jointly toeffect engagement of said element with said moving member, and means to establish a limited movement of said moving member after said engagement.

4. In combination with. a tape actuator, a retarded-stop device comprising a moving element, an extensible member, means for operating said member to eiIect engagement thereof with said moving element, means operable in regularly recurring cycles for controlling said first means to establish a predetermined period of engagement of said member and said element during each cycle, and means to establish a limited movement of said element after said engagement upon cessation of operation of said cyclically operable means.

5. In a tape actuating device for imparting continuous movement to a tape through a printing telegraph machine, a first means in the printing machine operable cyclically, a second means in the tape actuating device comprising a first component and a second component, said first component adapted to control the operation of said second component; and means controlled by said first means acting directly on-said first component for rendering said first component ineffective while said first means is operating in regularly recurring cycles.

6. In combination, a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive to received permutation code combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape, and means for moving said tape continuously during the continued reception of currentlimpulses including a yielding-stop device efiective for establishing the continuance of said movement during a current imaction between said members during each cycle,

and means carried by said first mentioned means operative upon cessation of operation of said cyclically operable means to effect an additional period of coaction to establish thereby the inaction of said driving member.

8. In combination, a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive to received permutation code combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape, and means for moving said tape continuously and smoothly at a constant speed during the continued reception of current impulses including a yielding-stop means effective for controlling said movement during a predetermined interruption of the. current impulses.

9. In a news exhibiting apparatus comprising a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive. to received permutation code "combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape, means for moving said tape continuously during the continued reception of current impulses including an electromagnet energized during the reception of current impulses, and. a yielding-stop means effective during a temporary deenergization of said electromagnet for controlling the continued movement of the tape. 10. In combination, a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive to received permutation code combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape, and means for moving said tape continuously during the continued reception of current impulses including an electromagnet energized during the reception of current impulses, and a retarded-stop device embodying-a yielding-stop instrumentality effective during a temporary deenergization of said electromagnet for controlling the continued movement of the tape.

11. In combination, a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive to received permutation code combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape, and means for moving said tape continuously during the continued reception of current impulses including a yielding-stop member effective for controlling said movement during a predetermined interruption of the current impulses.

12. In a tape actuating apparatus, a retardedstop device comprising a normally moving element, a yielding-stop member, electromagnetic means for operating said stop member to effect the engagement thereof with said element, and means carried by. said member to establish a limited movement of saidmoving element after said engagement.

13. In combination with a tape actuating apparatus, a retarded-stop device comprising a moving member, a stopping member, a protrusible element between said moving member and said stopping member, means for operating said stopping member and said element jointly to effect engagement of said element with said moving member, means operable in regularly recurring cycles for controlling said first means to effeet a predetermined period of engagement of said moving member and said element, and means to establish a limited movement of said moving member after said engagement upon cessation of,

operation of said cyclically operable means.

14. In combination, a recording device responsive to equal lengthrletter codes and capable of printing upon a movable tape, a tape actuator comprising a tape-engaging means for controlling the movement of said tape through said recording device, a retarded-stop device in said actuator for controlling said tape-engaging means comprising a moving element, a yieldingstop member, means for operatingsaid member to effect engagement thereof with said moving element, means in said recording device op-,

erable in cycles corresponding synchronously to said codes for controlling said first means to efiect a predetermined period of engagement of said member and said element during each cycle, and means effective upon cessation of operation of said cyclically operable means to establish an additional period of engagement to effect the arrest of said moving element and said tape.

15. In a news exhibiting apparatus comprising a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive to received permutation code combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape; means to impart continuous movement to said tape during continued reception of current impulses including a yieldingstop device, and electromagnetic means adapted to render said device .efiective for controlling said movement during apredetermined interruption of said current impulses.

16. In combination with a tape actuator, a retarded-stop device comprising a moving element, an extensible member, electromagnetic means for operating said member to eiiect engagement thereof with said moving element, means operable in regularly recurring cycles for controlling said first means to eifect' a predetermined period of engagement of said member and said element during each cycle, and means to establish 2. limited movement of said element after said engageof engagement of said first member and said second member upon cessation of operation of said first mentioned means to arrest the operation of said first member.

18. In a projection system, a recorder responsive to equal length letter codes, atape, a tape actuator adapted to impart continuous movement to said tape, said tape actuator comprising a first member normally operable continuously to effect the movement of said tape through said recorder, a second member operable to control the movement of said first member, means in said recorder operable in regularly recurring cycles corresponding synchronously to said codes adapt ed to control said second member to efiecta predetermined period of engagement of said second member and said first member during each cycle, and means effective upon cessation of operation of said cyclically operable means to establish a supplemental period of engagement to effect the arrest of said first member and said tape.

19. In combination with a tape-engaging device, means comprising a first component operable under certain operating conditions and a second component operable under other conditions, means operable in regularly recurring cycles to control said first mentioned means to effect a predetermined period of interaction between said components during-each cycle, and means efiective upon cessation of operation of said cyclically operable means to establish an additional period of interaction to effect the inaction of said first component. 4

20. In a projection system, a recorder responsive to equal length letter codes adapted to make a record on a movable tape, a first means to project said record, a second means adapted to control the movement of said tape simultaneously through said recorder and said first means, said second means comprising a first component operable under certain operating conditions and a secondcomponent operable under other conditions, means operable in cycles corresponding synchronously to said codes to control said second means to effect a predetermined period of interaction between said components during each cycle, and means effective upon cessation of operation of said cyclically operable means to establish a supplemental period of interaction to efiect the inaction'of said first component to arrest the movement of said tape.

21. In combination, a telegraph mechanism selectively responsive to current impulses and operativeto record characters on a tape, means for moving the tape continuously during the continued reception of current impulses, means operable concurrently with each complete operation of said mechanism and efiective cyclically therewith for controlling the operation of said tape moving means, and mechanical means effective with said second mentioned means for establishing the continuance of the operation of said tape moving means for a predetermined periodafter said second mentioned means has lost its effectiveness.

22. In a tape, actuating apparatus, a retardedstop device comprising a normally moving element, means cooperating with said element for controlling its movement, an electromagnetic means for operating said means for rendering it ineffective with said element, and means effective following the deenergization of said electromagnetic means for establishing the cooperation of said means with said element to efi'ect the limited movement of said element.

23. In a tape actuating apparatus, a retarded-.

stop device comprising a tape advancing element, means for driving said element continuously, an electromagnet energized periodically for controlling the continuous driving of said element, and a yielding-stop means efiective followin'g the deenergization of said electromagnet for establishing the continued driving of said element to alimited extent. r

24. In combination, a telegraph mechanism selectively responsive to current impulses and operative to record characters on a tape, means for moving the tape continuously during the continued reception of current impulses, a cam operated cyclically with said mechanism for controlling the operation of said tape moving means, and mechanical means efiective with said cyclically operable cam for continuing the operation of said tape moving means for a predetermined period after said cyclically operable cam has lost its efiectiveness. q

25. In combination, a telegraph printing mechanism selectively responsive to received permutation code combinations of current impulses operative to record characters on a tape, a tape moving means, cam controlled means for controlling the operation of said tape moving means, and mechanical means efiective with saidcam controlled means for controlling the continued movement of the tape for a predetermined period after said cam controlled means has lost its effectiveness. y 7

JWALTER J. ZENNER.- 

